Sheroes Hangout

When in Agra, perhaps on the way to
the Taj Mahal, drop in to Sheroes Hangout.
So much more than a Restaurant & Cafe.
Run for and by survivors of acid attack.
All women, overcoming the unspeakable.

“Now we are ready to fight back!”

Two of the heroines of Sheroes Hangout.

Ritu knew, after watching me eat,
I was in need of a nice clean T-shirt.

A Satisfied Customer
. . . despite Mark being an Aussie!
For Sheroes does not do meat pie & sauce.
Only delicious vegan curry. Hot & spicy
. . . of course (Not too spicy, for that would
drive the tourists away).

How could anyone . . . ?

Daisy the cow says, “Do no harm!”

https://www.sheroeshangout.com/

https://m.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/12/23/sheroes-hangout-cafe_n_13830342.html

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/07/27/acid-attacks-women-india-survivors-fight-back/486007001/

Photography:
David & Linda Redpath © 2019

101 thoughts on “Sheroes Hangout”

  1. Acid attacks are the bane of Indian society. Acid is cheap and easily available. Spurned men resort to stalking and throwing acid and the consequences for the girls are unimaginable!! Acid survivors are indeed sheroes! Thank you, David.

    Liked by 7 people

    Reply

    1. I know one of the main goals of the
      Sheroes collective is to have such
      dangerous material restricted.
      To think governments are so willing to
      prohibit much less harmful substances,
      yet have to be pushed when it comes to
      industrial strength acid!?

      Liked by 6 people

      Reply

      1. The Supreme Court has ordered the banning but on the ground it is not so! Sadly our successive governments have done nothing to enforce the law. Even though we are half the population, we are not considered worthy vote bank and acid victims even less so!
        I am having difficulty restraining myself from letting loose a string of expletives!! 😠😠

        Liked by 5 people

      2. Change is slow … Too slow!
        A Brahmin Prime Minister with a
        conservative patriarchy at his back.
        The untouchable class being put in their
        traditional “cultural” place, by force.
        Now the ancient hand of religious division
        is shaking the war rattle again.
        I do try not to judge … but!
        Swear as much as you like, Punam.

        Liked by 4 people

  3. You seem to manage to capture people’s souls and auras in your photos, along with the sense of the places in which you find yourself.
    It’s a talent. These aren’t just empty pics, they’re full of life 😉

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. Our friends, Mark and Natalie, go there
      every year and took my wife & I along for
      an unforgettable educational … meal!
      We had a great time in Delhi, Kenza, but I’m
      sure the traffic congestion has only gotten
      worse since you were living there.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

  12. This is deep seeded spiritual problem. No matter if it’s firearms in the USA or acid attacks in India or Machete attacks in Mexico it’s the same problem of people taking their hate of themselves out on the innocent. We have to find a way to fix the broken spirit of the attackers before the attacks will stop.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. Yes, it’s a global phenomenon. Wherever
      there is broken humanity, you’ll find an
      overwhelming love deficit. A lack of true
      compassion. It doesn’t take a prophet to
      see the problem, but I’ll quote one anyway;

      “Broken hands
      on broken ploughs,
      Broken treaties, broken vows,
      Broken pipes, broken tools,
      People bending broken rules
      Hound dog howling,
      bull frog croaking,
      Everything is broken.”

      “The strongest wall
      will crumble and fall
      to a mighty God.”
      Will I ever learn
      that there’ll be no peace,
      that the war won’t cease
      Until He returns ?”
      ~ Bob Dylan

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

  15. Stop acid attacks! Such impacting photos of yours bring me back a photography exhibition I saw in Barcelona with portraits of so many women victims of such attacks. It all made me cry. When I strike and march this Friday, March 8, International Day for Women Rights, I will surely have all of them in mind.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

    1. I’ll be matching with you in spirit, Marta.

      “Oh woman is the slave to the slaves.
      . . . We insult her everyday on TV
      And wonder why she has no guts
      or confidence.
      When she’s young we kill her will to be free
      While telling her not to be so smart
      we put her down for being so dumb.”
      ~ John Lennon

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  17. Oh my god. I only wish this was fake. Acid attacks…what a world. These women are beautiful and their smiles show. Ha, you look like a statuesc god amongst them. Love the kids and how they look.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  19. Wonderful pictures, David.
    && thanks for the knowledge, it’s always a good thing to find out what’s going on in other parts of the world. I had no idea, very sad situation. Glad you could be a ray of sunshine for them. ♥️

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Janae.
      I may not have been
      a ray of sunshine,
      but I did pay the bill
      for a wonderful lunchtime 😎
      (Actually, Sheroes don’t charge for meals. It’s
      up to you how much to donate 4 the cause.)

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. We did visit the Palace of Love.
      Knocked on the door, but nobody home
      (nobody alive, that is 😎)
      I didn’t realise there were grand Mahals,
      built for the Mughal Emperor’s other wives,
      on either side of the Taj itself.

      Like

      Reply

      2. On no ,on either side of TAJ,there is mosque of Queen Mumtaj Mahal’s close friend and special maid servant SATIUNNISA who was hanged for punishment of Mughal Emperor Shajahaan coz of a little bit misunderstanding.when he went out to victory the other areas and lived as absent for many days.Mumtaaj was very sad and for her entertainment,Satiunnisa was sleeping with her in dress of mughal emperor.her beloved became mad.it is said- still now,his soul wanders there.i have seen him.really.

        Liked by 1 person

      4. An amazing thing is there is it that a droplets fall down on both grave in rainy season but there is no any hole on the roof(gumbad)all scientist are failed to know that secret.we say-sky tears on both unlucky beloved.

        Liked by 1 person

      6. Mumtaaj Mahal(real name was Arjumand bano) was only Shahjaan’s most beloved wife.he was gave his wife name Mumtaaj(crown of world)because she was most beautiful.after her death,he made that white marbled mosque which are called by name TAJMAHAL.

        Liked by 1 person

    1. As a free-range anthropologist,
      not a tourist,
      it is my schismatic job to study
      both sides of this mortal fense.
      Tis a pity that peoples, nations,
      and especially women,
      need to employ
      effective self-defence ✌️

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  28. Good Lord. Those are some serious Goddess Women. I totally forgot about acid attacks. My heart just melted and flew high all in one fell swoop. What beautiful women. Profoundly. Thank You for sharing this, David. ❤️❤️❤️

    Liked by 1 person

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